Well cleaner



041.25, 1938. c. TAYLOR 2, 9 I

WELL CLEANER Filed Nov. 2'7, 1953 I IN VENT 0R 0441/05 6 72;; 0,6

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 25, 1938 UNITED STATES Claude 0. Taylor, Whittier, Calif. Application November 27, 1933, Serial No. 699,883

26 Claims.

This invention relates to well cleaners for removing debris, rotary mud, or other impediments to flow from producing strata into an oil well, and in addition, and more particularly to a means 5 for removing clogging obstructions, from the openings through perforated well casings, which casings are frequently employed in oil-producing strata and are commonlyknown as well screens or strainers. Y

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a well cleaner which will, by a single stroke of a reciprocating Dump, force fluid out- 5 ducing strata, or may. later return to obstruct said openings.

) Another object of said invention is to provide a device which may be anchored in any desired position within a perforated well casing or screen,

3 and which, after cleaning a series of perforations at. such positions may be readily removed and locked in a new location for a repetition of the operation on a newseries of perforations.

Other important objects are facility of place 35 ment and change of position for operatiomeconomy of manufacture and of service, and both economy and efllciency of operation.

The art prior to my invention discloses meanswhereby a packer may be locked in position with- 40 in a perforated casing, and whereby another packer may be reciprocated with relation to the first, the result being to force the fluid within the casing to and fro through the casing perforations between packers with the hope that such 45 to and fro movement may temporarily remove obstructions in the perforations. Such means and method, however, are haphazard in that, among other things, no positive means are provided for, after loosening the detritus, of drawing 50 it into the casing for later removal.

Other devices of the prior art operate by relatively movable packers anchored within a well casing to draw the clogging obstructions into .the casing, but do not sufficiently provide for a. posi- 55 tivepressure outward through the perforations,

which is frequently necessary in stubborn cases,

to remove.

.The apparatus of my present invention, on'the contrary, operates to secure a positive flow of fluid outward through one series of perforations and at the same time an in-flow through an adjoining and preferably lower series of such open ings, the "latter action operating to draw into the casing through the lower series of perforations, (which have previously been subjected to a forced out-flow of fluid) the loosened screen obstructions, where they may be readily removed by methods well known in the art. I

I attain the objects and correct the prior art deficiencies above briefly described by the devices illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Y Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a well-casing screen,

my invention, shown positioned within the casing screen, being illustratedpartly in section and partly in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

' Fig. 3 is a horizontal Fie- Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line 4-4 of Fi 1; Y V Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the, means of operating the fluid by-pass at the lower end of my invention.

Similar indicating letters and numerals refer to similar parts through the several views.

I indicates alwell screen in the form of a persection on line 3-3 of forated casing; 2, well tubing, to which is rigidly attached a piston rod or stem 3, carrying at its lower'end a piston 4. Stem 3 passes, at its lower end, through a common form of anchoring device, the speciflc construction of which, not being of.the essence of the present invention need not be minutely described, nor in the drawing illustrated in detail. Said anchorin device, however,

consists" of a sleeve 5 on the upper end of which is rigidly secured a slip expander 6. Slidingly surrounding the lower portion of said sleeve 5 is a collar 1' to which is attached a plurality of bowed springs 8, the centers of the bowed outer surface of which being adapted for frictional engagement with the inside walls of the casing in a well known conventional manner. Sleeve 9, to which the upper ends of said bowed springs 8 are attached, carries suitable linkage III, at the upper ends of which are attached slips l I, which slips are rigidly held' by dove-tailed groovesand tenons insliding engagement with the sloping extcrior of expander 6. An important part of said conventional anchoring means is stud I2 extending radially from sleeve 5 and adapted for engagement by a bayonet slot l3 in collar 1.

The extension of well tubing 2, namely, stem 3, passes, at its upper end, slidably through the center of slip expander 5, and at its lower end extends through any common form of stuffing box,

such as indicated at I4, in the closed bottom of a cylindrical member surrounding cylinder l5,- the space between said cylinders I5 and I8 forming an annular chamber l1.

Extending upwardly from the upper surface of piston 4 studs l8--I8 are adapted to register and flt into corresponding recesses I9I9 in the under side of the bottom closure plate of sleeve 5. An extension 20 of reduced-diameter is secured in" any suitable manner to the lower end of cylindrical member I8 and carries screw-threaded to its lower end a coupling collar 2| which is provided with an upwardly extending lug, for purposes to be described, as shown at 22. Supported on the upper surface of said coupler 2I and closely but rotatably fitting the outside of said extension 20 of cylinder I5 is a sleeve 23, to which i is rigidly secured in any suitable manner, in spaced relationship with each other, a plurality of packers diagrammatically illustrated at 24, 25 and 28, it being understood that said packers may be of any suitable conventional form.

A pair of ports 21 and 28 through extension 20 above and below the packers, respectively, are positioned in horizontal alignment with ports 29 and 30 through sleeve 23. Ports 21 and 29 and ports 28 and 30, respectively, may be turned out of registry by rotation of extension20 which is connected with the well tubing, sleeve 23 being prevented from rotation by the friction of the packers, carried by the sleeve, on the well screen.

When the device is initially placed in the well. or

when it is desired to move the packers to a new location, the ports are turned into registry to permit fluid from above or below to flow to the opposite side of the packers and equalize fluid pressure. The upwardly extending lug 22 of coupling collar 2| is adapted to travel within a notch,

or cut away portion 22a in the lower end of sleeve 23 and is positioned to permit lug 22 to engage one end of the notch and prevent further relative rotative movement between extension 20 and sleeve 23 when ports 21 and 29 are, respectively, in registry with ports 28 and 30.

Screw-threaded into. coupling 2| is a short nipple 3| to the lower surface of which is secured in any suitable manner a flapper valve 32 which is maintained in closed position by the tension of spring 33. Registering corresponding ports through sleeve 23 and extension 28 are shown at 34, the innermost of which ports, namely, that extending through extension 23, being normally maintained in closed position against pressure from the inside of sleeve 23 by a leaf spring controlled valve 35.

Extending from the bottom closure plate of cylinder I5 is a tube 38, which at its lower end extends into and through the wall of extension 28 as indicated at-31, and there registers with 'a' port controlled by an outwardly opening spring leaf-controlled valve 38.

39 and 43 designate open ports in the upper .to be cleaned. slightly to the right, when the bowed springs on the anchoring device which frictionally engage walls of cylinder I5. Near the bottom of cylinder I5 a port 4| is provided which is connected by a short tubing conduit 42 through the walls of cylinder member #5. An inwardly opening leaf spring valve '43 controls the opening through said port I The operation of the device is as follows: With its slips locked in contracted position and suspended from the lower end of the well tubing 2 the device is lowered intoa well until the packers 24, 25 and 26 reach a position opposite the series of perforatio in the well screen desired The well tubing-is then turned the inner wall of the well casing will not respond to the turning movement. The sleeve 5, however, being locked by engagement of studs I8I8 with recesses I9I9 in the bottom plate of said sleeve 5, will move with said. well tubing and will carry stud I2 to the limit of its lateral movement in bayonet slot I3 when a slight lowering of the well tubing will disengage said stud from said slot.

Such lowering of the well tubing will also carry;

the slip expander downwardly while slips I I, restrained by the frictional engagement of their attached bowed springs 8, with the bore of the casing will be wedged into locking engagement with said bore. Thus the complete assembly of the well cleaning device and its anchoring means will be held against relative movement with re-. spect to the casing, which will permit piston 4 by means of its rod 3 and well tubing 2 to be reciprocated within the range of movement allowed by the interior length of cylinder I5.

It will be noted that, during the lowering of the device into the well, ports 21 and 28 in extension 20 register with ports 29 and 30 in sleeve 23, thus maintaining an open by-pass to permit fluid in the well to pass from the space below to the space above the series of packers 24, 25 and 28.

The turning of thetubing for unlocking the anchoring device as above described will also coincidentally partially rotate extension 20 within sleeve 23, said sleeve being restrained from following the turning movement of the tubing by the frictional engagement of the packers'with the bore of the casing. Such relative movement of extension 20 and sleeve 23 will close ports 21, 28,

With the device locked in relative immovable position at a desired point in the perforated casing the piston 4 is then alternately raised and lowered with a pumping stroke. As it is lowered fluid below it will pass out between packers 24 and 25, the movement of said fluid outwardly forcing valve 38 open against the tension of its leaf spring, during which downward movement of said piston 4 valve 43 in the bottom of the cylinder I5 will remain closed.

The downward movement of said piston 4 will also create a suction above said piston which will draw fluid through ports 34, passing valve35, into extension 28, and upward through annular space I1, throughv ports 39 and 40, and into the upper portion of said cylinder I 5.

On the upward stroke of piston 4 fluid will be drawn through conduit 42 past valve 43 and into the lower portion of cylinder I5. The upward stroke of the pistomwill also force fluid above the 'piston outward through ports 39 and 4|], downward through annular space l1 and through extension 20, and outward through valve 32.

It will thus be seen that as the piston moves downwardly fluid will be forced outwardly through the perforations in the screen between tion and assembly of the various parts may be changed and that various modifications in means for securing the double action of the piston, of alternately or coincidentally forcing fluid outwardly through one series of well perforations and inwardly through another may readily be devised by those of skill in' this art, withoutdeparting from the essence of my invention.

What I claim and desire to cover by Letters I Patent is:

1. In a well cleaner, the combination of a plurality of packers concentrically mounted in spaced relation with' each other, a tubular support for said packers, anchoring'means to removably lock said packer-support at a selected position within a well, a cylinder, a piston adapted to be reciprocated within said cylinder, a conduit from one end of said cylinder to a space between two of said packers, avalve controlling said conduit against inward flow, a conduit from the other end of said cylinder to a space between one of the last mentioned packers and another,

a valve controlling said last mentioned conduit against outward flow, and means to reciprocate said piston.

2. In a well cleaner, the combination of a plurality of packers concentrically mounted inspaced relation with each other, a tubular support for said packers, anchoring means to'removably lock said packer-support at a selected position within a well, a cylinder, a piston adapted to be reciprocated within said cylinder, a conduit from one end of said cylinder to a space between two of said packers, a valve controlling said conduit against inward flow, a conduit from the other end of said cylinder to a space between one of the last mentioned packers and another,

a valve controlling said last mentioned conduit against outward flow, a by-pas's from a point below the lowermost to a point above the uppermost of said packers, and valve means to close said by-pass when said packers are anchored in operative position within the casing and means to reciprocate said piston.

3. In a well cleaner, a combination of a plurality of packers concentrically mounted in spaced relation with each other, a tubular support for said packers, anchoring means to reduit against outward flow from said cylinder, a

conduit from the other end of said cylinder to a space between another pair of said packers, a valve controlling said last mentioned conduit against outward flow, and means to reciprocate said piston.

4. In a well cleaner, a combination of a pillrality of packers concentrically mounted in spaced relation with 'eachiother, a tubular sup- 3 port for said packers, anchoring means to removably lock said packer-support at a selected position within a well, a cylinder, a piston adapted to be reciprocated within said cylinder, a conduit from one end of said cylinder to a space between two of said packers, a valve controlling said conduit against inward flow, a conduit from- I said last mentioned end ofsaid cylinder to a point within a well casing on one side of said plurality of packers, a valve controlling said conduit against outward flow from said cylinder, -a conduit from the other end of said cylinder to a space between another pair of said packers, a valve controlling said last mentioned conduit against outward flow, means to reciprocate said piston, a by-pass from aipoint below the lowermost to a point above-the uppermost of said position within the casing.

5. In a device of the character described, a plupackers and valvemeans to close said by-pass when said packers are anchored inoperative v rality of well-casing packers concentrically con- I I nected in spaced relation with each-other, means to anchor said packers at a selected zone within a well screen, a cylinder concentrically positioned in spaced relation to said packers, a piston closely and slidably fitting said cylinder and adapted .to be reciprocated to and fro with relation to the position of said packers, means adapted to communicate'pressure from within one end of said cylinder to a space between an adjoining pair of said packers, said means also op erating to prevent suction in said space from said last mentioned end of s id cylinder, means adapted to communicate suct on from the other end of said cylinder to a space between another pair of adjoining packers, said means also operating to prevent pressure in said space from said last mentioned end of said cylinder, and means to reciprocate said piston.

6. In a device of the character described, a plurality of well-casing packers concentrically connected in spaced relation with each other,'means to anchor said packers at a selected zone within a well screen, a cylinder concentrically positioned in spaced relation to said packers, a piston closely and slidably fitting said cylinder and adapted to be reciprocated to and fro with relation to the position of'saidpackers, means adapt; ed to communicate pressure from within one end of said cylinder to a space between an adjoining pair of said packers, said means also operating to prevent suction in saidspace from said last mentioned end of said cylinder, .means operated by said last mentioned suction to permit fluid on one side of said plurality of packers to be drawn into said last mentioned end of said cylinder, means adapted to communicate suction from the other end of said cylinder to aspace between another pair of adjoining packers, said means also operating to prevent pressure in said space from said last mentioned end of said cyl inder. means to relieve pressure in said last mentionedend to said cylinder, and means to reciprocate said piston.

7. In a device of the character described, a plurality of packers mounted in spaced relation with each other, meansto anchor said packers at a sure and suction .irom one end of said cylinder so as to apply said pressure to the series of well screen perforations between two of said packers and to prevent application of said suction to said last mentioned series of screen perforations, and vbe reciprocated within said cylinder to simulmeans to control alternate pressure and suction from the other'end of said cylinder so as to apply suction to a series oi. well screen perforations between one of first above mentioned and another and to prevent application 0 said pressure to said last mentioned series of screen perforationa' 8. In a device of the character described, a plurality of packers spaced apart, a cylinder, a piston reciprocating with said cylinder, conduits i'rom the top and bottom of said cylinder, respectively, to spaces between different pairs of said packers and valvular means adapted to close one of said conduits to suction, and another of said conduits to pressure from said cylinder.

9. ma well cleaner a plurality of packers immovable with relation to each other, a-pump to create fluid pressure, means to communicate said pressure to the space between one pair or said packers and means to convey fluid from between a second pair of packers to below the lowermost packer.

10. In a well cleaner, a pair of packers immovable with relation to each other, a cylinder, a piston adapted to reciprocate in said cylinder, a one way conduit from a space between said packers to one end of said cylinder and a conduit from the opposite end of said cylinder to apoint below the lower packer.

11. In a device oi! the character described, a plurality of packers, a cylinder, a piston adapted to reciprocate within said cylinder, conduits to utilize pressure caused by such reciprocation to force fluid between one pair of packers, and means to convey fluid from between a second pair of packers to a point below the lowermost packer.

12. In a well cleaner, a plurality of packers immovable with relation to each other, a pump to create a partial vacuum and pressure, means to communicate the vacuum created by said pump .to a space between two of said packers, and means to communicate the pressure in said pump to a space between another pair 01' said packers.

l3. In a device for cleaning perforations of a well-casing-screen, a tubular member, a pump connected to said tubular member, a sleeve on said tubular member, a packer on said sleeve adapted for frictional contact with the casingscreen to resist rotation of said sleeve, a pair of packers connected to said tubular member substantially concentric with said first-mentioned packer, means to communicate the pressure created by said pump .with' the zone between two of said packers, means to communicate the suction created by said pump with the zone between another pair of said packers, and ports in said sleeve and tubular member on opposite sides of said packers, adapted to be brought into registry by rotation of said tubular member.

'14. In a well cleaner, a casing, a tubular member within said casing, a pump connected to and actuated by said tubular member, a sleeve rotatably mounted on said member, a packer secured to said sleeve adapted to irictionally engage said casing so as to resist rotative movement relative therebetween, a second packer connected to said tubular member, means to communicate suction of said pump with the zone between said packers, and ports in said tubular member adapted to be brought into registry with respective ports in said sleeve by rotation of said member.

15. In a well cleaner, a cylinder, aplurality oi ckers packers immovable with relation to each other connected to said cylinder, a piston adapted to taneously create suction and pressure therein, means to communicate suction in said cylinder with the space between 'two of said packers, and means to communicate pressure created within said cylinder with the space between another pair of said packers.

16. In a device of the character described, a' stem, a pump connected to and actuated by reciprocation oi! said stem, a plurality of packers connected to said pump, and means to communicate suction and pressure created by actuation of the pump to respective zones between diflerent pairs oi! said packers on the downward movement of said stem. I

17. In a well cleaner, a stem adapted for reciprocation,.a pump connected to and actuated by reciprocation 01 said stem, a pair oi! packers connected to said pump, means to communicate suction from said pump to the area between said packers, and means to convey fluid drawn from between said packers by said pump to the zone below the lowermost packer.

18. In a well cleaner, a pump comprising a working barrel and a plunger disposed within said barrel, a stem connected to said pump adapted by its reciprocation to relatively recip rocate the barrel and plunger, a pair of packers connected to said pump, a passage to communicate suction created in said barrel with the zone between said packers, and valvular means controlling said passage adapted to open at the beginning of the downward movement of the stem but close during the opposite stroke of said stem.

19. In a well cleaner, a pump comprising a working barrel and a-plunger disposed within said barrel, a stem connected to said pump .adapted by its reciprocation to relatively reciprocate the barrel and plunger, a pair of packers connected to said pump, a passage to communicate suction, at the beginning oi. the downward movement of said stem, created in said barrel by movement 01' the plunger with respect to said barrel with the zone between said packers.

20. In a well cleaner, a pump comprising a working barrel and a plunger disposed within said barrel, a stem connected to said pump adapted by its reciprocation to relatively reciprocate the barrel and plunger, a pair or packers connected to said pump, and communicating means between said pump and the zone between said packers throughout the downward suction stroke 01' said pump.

21. In a well cleaner, a stem, a pump connected to said stem and adapted to be actuated by reciprocation thereof to create suction, a pair of packers spaced apart and connected to said pump,

and means to communicate a steady suction created by said pump with the zone between said packers throughout the downward suction stroke of said pump. 5

22. In a device for cleaning perforations of a casing, a tubular member, a pump connected to araaaao reciprocably disposed within said barrel, means connected to said piston to cause by its recipro-' cation the reciprocation of said piston with respect to said barrel, a pair of packers, means to connect said packers to said barrel, and communicating means between said barrel andthe zone between said packers throughout the downa ward stroke of said means.

24. In a device of the character described, a

tubing string, a working barrel, 9. piston within said working barrel, means to connect said piston to said tubing string so as to reciprocate said piston with respect tosaid barrel by reciprocation of said tubing, a pair of packers, means to connectsaid packers to said working barrel in spaced relation with respect-to each other, and means to communicate suction created in said working barrel on the downward movement of said tubing string with the zone between said packers throughout the downward stroke of said tubing.

25. In a well cleaner, a pump comprising a working barrel and a piston disposed reciprocably within said working barrel, means connected to said piston to cause by its reciprocation the actuation of said pump, a pair of packers, means to connect said packers to said barrel, and communicating means from the zone between said packers to said pump and from said pump to below said lowermost packer, whereby fluid is drawn from between the packers by actuation of the pump and discharged below the lowermost packer.

' 26. In a device of the character described, a tubing string, a working barrel, a piston within said working barrel, means connecting said piston with said tubing string, a pair of packers, means to connect said packers to said working barrel, communicating means from the zone between said packers to said pump and from said pump to below the lowermost packer, whereby fluid is drawn from between the packers by actuation oi the pump and discharged below the low- CLAUDE C. TAYLOR ermost packer. 

